While announcing that Jonathan Ericsson might miss tonight's Red Wings-Flames game with an illness that might be influenza-related, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock made sure to suggest that Ericsson's performance may have merited a little time in the press box on its own, as he told the Calgary Herald's Vicki Hall:

October 31, Calgary Herald: “We hope it’s nothing major,” said Detroit head coach Mike
Babcock. “But what we’re concerned about is that’s what happened in Edmonton.
It was nothing major in the morning and suddenly, by night, it was.”

As a rookie, Ericsson dazzled last year in the playoffs, but
he’ struggled in his first full year, of NHL employment on a pairing with Brett
Lebda.

“Lebs and him have been on the ice for some of the ugliest
goals in hockey,” Babcock said.

But the coach isn't all down on the promising rearguard.

“He can shoot the puck, which is real
important, I think, for a D-man,” Babcock said. “He has long reach. He’s good
on the penalty kill. We think he’s really coming.”